How Drinking Water Helps Your Mental Health

Our mental health impacts every area of our lives, influencing everything from our ability to concentrate and make decisions to the way we interact with others and pursue our careers. This makes prioritizing and being proactive about our mental health an important part of our overall well-being.

One of the simplest daily habits you can build that will have a positive impact on your mental health is drinking water. Find out about the connection between water and mental health; specifically, the ways drinking water benefits mental health for both individuals and the general population. Then discover the negative impacts of dehydration and how drinking filtered water can keep you healthy and hydrated.

Ways Drinking Water Benefits Your Mental Health

Water consumption positively impacts mental health in several ways, including:

• Focus - Water and cognitive function¹ go hand in hand. Drinking water helps keep the brain hydrated, which is essential for maintaining alertness and concentration. Staying hydrated ensures that the brain gets enough oxygen and nutrients, supporting clear thinking and improved focus.
• Relationships - Drinking water can improve mood² and overall well-being, making people more patient and understanding. Staying hydrated helps people feel better physically and emotionally, which can lead to healthier and more positive interactions with others.
• Career/Academics - Hydration boosts your cognition, playing a pivotal role in your career, academic performance, and productivity. Drinking enough water daily can help you maintain focus, think clearly, and be more effective in your role as a professional or student.
• Physical Health - Drinking water supports both mental and physical health by keeping the body and brain well-hydrated, which is essential for optimal functioning. Proper hydration helps reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance physical performance, creating a positive feedback loop between mental and physical well-being.
• Energy - Proper hydration is crucial for energy production. When you're well-hydrated, your body can better regulate temperature and transport nutrients, helping you feel more energetic and less fatigued.

It’s safe to say that drinking water has significant benefits for mental health, enhancing both cognitive function and emotional well-being.

How Water Consumption Impacts Mental Health on a Larger Scale

Drinking water can also positively influence public mental health, with impacts on public safety, healthcare costs, and communities.

• Public Safety - Water consumption can benefit public safety by preventing dehydration-related issues, such as heat exhaustion or impaired cognitive function, which can lead to accidents. Since staying hydrated helps individuals maintain focus and physical coordination, it can help reduce the risk of incidents in various environments, including workplaces³ and public spaces.
• Healthcare Costs - Improving water intake has shown promise in helping reduce symptoms of depression caused by dehydration⁴. This can, potentially result in decreased  healthcare expenditures related to therapy and medication over time.

Staying hydrated supports mental health and overall health, which benefits individuals and society as a whole.

Negative Impacts of Dehydration

Since staying properly hydrated provides so many benefits, it’s no wonder dehydration has the opposite effect. Being dehydrated can negatively impact a person’s health⁵ in many ways, leading to:

• Dizziness - Dehydration reduces the body's blood volume, leading to lower blood pressure. This can result in feelings of lightheadedness or dizziness, especially when standing up quickly. Dizziness often clouds your thinking, leading to a foggy mental state that can impact daily activities and decision-making processes.
• Difficulty Concentrating - Dehydration has been linked to a decrease in cognitive function, making concentration difficult. This hampers the ability to focus and process information, affecting memory, attention, and overall cognitive performance.
• Sluggishness - Dehydration drains your energy, leaving you feeling sluggish. This can diminish your alertness and mental sharpness, hampering your performance.
• Slowed Brain Function - Dehydration slows down your brain function, decreasing cognitive abilities. This slowdown can heighten risks linked to depression and anxiety.

How Impurities Found in Tap Water Negatively Impact the Brain

Drinking unfiltered tap water often exposes you to lead, chlorine, and other chemicals. These impurities can affect cognitive function, deteriorating mental well-being over time.

How Lead and Other Chemicals Impact the Brain

Lead in your drinking water poses a serious threat to brain health, impacting mental and cognitive function. This metal can sneak into your system, potentially derailing cognitive function over time. Kids and adults alike may suffer from reduced mental capabilities and other significant health issues.

Other contaminants commonly found in tap water include asbestos and pesticides, which may also lead to decreased cognitive function and other health-related issues.

Filtering tap water removes nearly all of these chemicals and contaminants, supporting and protecting our mental health.

Benefits of Drinking Filtered Water on Mental Health

Drinking filtered water⁶ plays an important role in safeguarding your mental health. Filtered water removes harmful impurities, thus greatly reducing the toxins that might impair cognitive function and cause other health issues. It can help you have a clearer mind, foster improved focus, reduce risks of anxiety, and support brain health better than tap water.

Image: ZeroWater 30 Cup Ready-Pour Dispenser + 2 Filters Starter Kit

ZeroWater Filtration Options

ZeroWater carries a variety of water filtration solutions, including pitchers and dispensers, water testers, and replacement filters, to enhance the quality of your drinking water.

Our filters feature a unique 5-stage filtration system that’s designed to effectively remove harmful contaminants, leaving you with cleaner, healthier water. Each stage reduces specific contaminants that are commonly found in tap water, such as lead and forever chemicals PFOA/PFOS.

Shop ZeroWater’s water filtration products today to stay hydrated with healthy drinking water and support your mental health. See our FAQ’s to find answers to questions you may have.

Sources:

1. https://www.cnet.com/health/mental/heres-why-drinking-water-is-the-key-to-good-mental-health/
2. https://solaramentalhealth.com/can-drinking-enough-water-help-my-depression-and-anxiety/
3. https://publichealth.tulane.edu/blog/accident-prevention-tips-workplace/
4. https://www.northstartransitions.com/post/can-drinking-water-help-improve-mental-health
5. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9013-dehydration
6. https://www.nutritionnews.abbott/healthy-living/diet-wellness/Hydration-and-Mental-Health--How-Are-They-Related/